Category Manager

National Co+op Grocers

1d • Remote

About The Position

National Co+op Grocers' (NCG) is seeking a Category Manager who is passionate about product, pricing, and promotions to strengthen vendor partnerships and execute annual promotions. NCG is a business services cooperative that supports community-owned grocery stores, aiming to revolutionize the grocery industry for the benefit of people and the planet. This role involves analyzing consumer and SKU data to shape category strategies, including pricing, margins, and vendor contributions, and guiding strategic decisions. It is ideal for individuals with strong analytical skills in retail/grocery category management and experience in vendor negotiations.

Requirements

• Minimum of 1 year experience with the category management process and demonstrated success developing and implementing category, promotional, pricing, and shelf-placement strategies required.
• Experience in developing relationships with sales representatives and brokers for brands or working as a brand or broker representative.
• Ability to design consumer-centric shelf plans and effective, visually attractive promotional displays.
• Strong understanding of both high/low and "Every Day Low Prices" (ELDP) pricing strategy.
• Familiarity with the cooperative business model and natural foods cooperatives.
• Familiarity with the health and wellness lifestyle, natural products industry, and buying behavior of health and wellness consumers.
• Up to 15% of business travel required, including overnights and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Analyze data on consumer behavior and the performance of categories, sub-categories, product segments, and SKUs to identify trends, determine category role and position, and inform decisions regarding strategies and tactical plans for promotions, shelf placement, product assortment, and pricing within assigned categories.
• Develop optimal product assortment for presentation to member co-ops through NCG's Core Sets program, including core national and regional assortment, items to be delisted and authorized, new item launch strategy and plans, suggested retail pricing, and planograms with category and item adjacencies, and category, brand, and segment space allocation.
• Develop annual promotional plans and strategies for all assigned categories and negotiate with vendor partners regularly to review business and evaluate, develop, and revise assortment, promotional and EDLP strategies and plans appropriate for NCG's programs and member co-ops.
• Ensure proper contribution from vendors and secure all vendor support within assigned categories including but not limited to ad/insertion fees, program participation fees, free product, demo support, marketing support fees, discounts/pricing supports, coupon offers, and support for cause promotions.
• Build and maintain relationships based on collaboration and trust with vendors and broker partners that increase overall support and investment over time and present our member co-ops with opportunities to differentiate themselves.
• Analyze post-promotional data to evaluate promotional strategies, determine optimal promotional vehicles, frequency, deal-depth, price points, seasonality/timing of promotion, and strategy.

Benefits

• 4 weeks Paid Time Off
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with company contributions
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• Company paid identity theft protection
• Matching 401(k) plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees